I've got a '97 V6 and a few days ago, in the morning, the battery was completely drained. Everything was good the evening before when I parked it, but in the morning, it was completely drained. I charged it and took it to autozone thinking I may need a new battery and asked them to check it.
The first said my alternator was bad, but then told me it was just the battery. So, I buy a brand new battery and replace the 4.5 year old one that was in it thinking I'm good. Drive the truck home, then take it to work the next day and back. The following morning (this morning), I got get in for work and it is completely drained again. Nothing.
I trickle charge it while at work and this evening took it to another store to check, thinking maybe it's the alternator. When tested, the no load voltage was 13.21V and the loaded voltage was 12.69V. I was told this was ok, but it could be the problem. I thought it should charge at a higher voltage than that.
I head back home (I'm gone for the next few days so buying it now would be no help), and after shutting off the car, the voltage is 12.06. About 30 minutes later, it's 11.88. I've disconnected the batter to keep it from getting all the way down.
When I put the multimeter on positive and then on the casing of the alternator, I get a voltage reading. Is this indicative of a short? Should I replace the Alternator?
The 11.97V picture attached is the alternator casing to the pos battery cable. 11.99 was a few moments after cutting the truck off. When I came back 30 minutes later, it was 11.88V.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
